National Ice Cream Day Deals & Freebies

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National Ice Cream Day Deals & Freebies

Did you know the third Sunday of July is National Ice Cream Day?  Many companies have gotten wise to this delicious day of celebration, and are offering some sweet freebies and deals.  Also, make sure you read all the way through, for a bonus giveaway for my Atlanta Braves fans!

Just like with Veteran’s Day freebies and deals,  Tax Day Freebies, and Mothers’ Day Deals, please check with your specific location for participation. Thanks to Mission: to Save for sharing some of these deals!

National Ice Cream Day Freebies & Deals

PetSmart – Free Doggie Ice Cream Sundaes available to pets at all PetSmart PetsHotel locations on National Ice Cream Day, July 16.  The dog-safe ice cream is vanilla flavored and non-dairy, as many dogs have challenges with lactose products. The sundaes are topped with dog biscuit sprinkles for a savory-sweet combination and a cool treat to beat the summertime heat in July.  Thanks Thrifty Jinxy for sharing this one!

Baskin Robbins -Get a free samples of its popular Polar Pizza from Noon – 5:00 p.m. at participating Baskin-Robbins locations on 7/16. In addition to the Polar Pizza Sampling on July 14, Baskin-Robbins is giving its guests several ways to enjoy National Ice Cream Month. For starters, guests who download the Baskin-Robbins Mobile App will receive exclusive offers on National Ice Cream Day (Sunday, July 16) and throughout the month.

Carvel– Buy One Get One FREE deal on any size soft serve cone or cup in the guests’ choice of Vanilla, Chocolate or OREO, Sunday, July 16th! (only at participating locations)

Dippin Dots – Order online in July for a chance to win your next shipment for Free.

Graeter’s– Wants to thank their loyal fans, for keeping them in business for over 147 years with $1.47 single dip sugar cones on Sunday, July 16th! Graeter’s plans to further take advantage of National Ice Cream Month in July with its annual unveiling of Summer Bonus Flavors in scoop shops and online for a limited time. New bonus flavors will be announced on June 26, July 10, July 24, August 7 and August 21. Finally, the Graeter’s family, in support of its new relationship with the Cincinnati Zoo, has created a decadent and delicious flavor – available only at the Zoo, to benefit the Zoo.

McDonalds is offering a FREE cone on Sunday, July 16, 2017.  Just stop in at any participating location, and the offer should appear on your McDonalds app.  (You must have the app in order to get the free ice cream offer.)

Atlanta Braves & Mayfield are offering Braves fans a sweet treat!  Starting at 10 am through 2:30 on July 16, fans can stop by lot 29 at SunTrust Park for a Mayfield ice cream sample, as well as spin their prize wheel for a chance at some cool Mayfield swag.

Would you like to attend an Atlanta Braves game, on behalf of Mayfield?  I’m giving away a $75 gift card to one winner.  It’s simple to enter for your chance to win: first, comment below telling me which ice cream flavor is your favorite.  Then, fill out the form below.  One winner will be randomly picked.  Giveaway ends 7/29/17.  Good luck, y’all!

 


$75 gift card

Keep on saving!  :o)
--Barbara

**Remember, y'all, this post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small amount of compensation when you purchase from my links, which I"ll totally blow on waffle fries and sweet tea, y'all!**

Wrapping Up the Month of June at Applebee’s

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June at Applebee's

Apparently this summer has been more hectic than I realized.  I sat down on June 30 to write this up, but July proved to be just as hectic as June!  Hence, a mid-July publication!  

The month of June kept my family busy, our calendars packed, and my schedule quite busy!  First, we renovated the kids’ bathroom,  not because we were sitting idolly by looking for something to do, but because the tub -which was easily over 20 years old- was starting to feel springy when the kids stepped in it, and the shower faucet had developed a steady leak.  Thankfully, when we redid the other two bathrooms in our house a few years ago, we went ahead and bought a sink, tub, toilet, sink faucet, and shower faucet for all three bathrooms because we knew we would eventually have to tackle this bathroom, AND because a family friend got us the products for about half off.

I digress.  So while we were re-doing the bathroom, I stayed home to ensure things were going as they should.  Months earlier, my mom had enrolled the kids in VBS at her church, and my son had three days of Kindergarten camp midweek.  (Yes, my littlest baby is off to kindergarten in the fall!) [Read more…]

Keep on saving!  :o)
--Barbara

**Remember, y'all, this post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small amount of compensation when you purchase from my links, which I"ll totally blow on waffle fries and sweet tea, y'all!**

5 Tips for Traveling Frugally

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tips for traveling frugallyTraveling can be expensive and all the little things add up quite quickly! It is hard to imagine saving money while traveling, but it can be done. Here are five tips to traveling frugally so that you can get out there and experience more of the world!

Plan Ahead

This sounds simple enough, but it is strangely one thing that is overlooked. When you are planning on flying, book your ticket three weeks ahead as prices go up on the 21-day mark. Conversely, 48 hours before a flight you can find some tremendous deals on last minute trips. A great resource is using Google Flights and then using this information to compare flights on Expedia or Travelocity.  If you’re traveling during the holidays, these are my tips for saving on holiday flights.

Tips on Fuel

Plan to fill up early in the morning and not when a tanker is filling the gas station’s underground tanks. Gas prices increase before any major holiday, so gas up as far in advance as you can, then just top off on the morning on your road trip. These simple steps will make sure that more gas ends up in your tank for less money.  Also, utilize your Kroger card to save big on gas, too.

Where to Stay

There are many choices of where to stay when traveling. If you are on a road trip, break out the tent and camp along your route. When flying, don’t forget to look up places on AirBNB or check out local B&Bs, especially if you don’t need all the amenities of a hotel. You can contact the Chamber of Commerce in the city you are visiting and often times they have discount codes for you to use at a local hotel.

tips for traveling frugally
Bed & Breakfast and Country Inns, 24th Edition

Excursions on the Cheap

When talking to the Chamber of Commerce, ask them if they have an activity book (often free) which has 2-for-1 coupons or discounts throughout an area. Many museums and attractions have a couple days a month where admission is reduced or free, plan if your trip is planned around those dates.  Also, utilize things sites/apps Groupon, Scoutmob, Goldstar, and Living Social for discounted deals on things to do locally.


groupon - tips for traveling frugallyGoldstar - tips for traveling frugally

Don’t Eat All Your Money

Food can add up quickly while traveling. Pack snacks like dried fruit, nuts, and protein bars in your bag. When you get to your destination, stop at the grocery store and pick up food that you can eat. Don’t eat out at breakfast, as you can start your day with a banana and protein shake. (Or if you’re lucky, find a hotel that throws in free breakfast.)  Dinner is usually twice the cost of lunch, so eat your largest meal midday and have the leftovers for dinner.

These are just a few of the ways you can travel frugally this year. Now get out there and travel!

Keep on saving!  :o)
--Barbara

**Remember, y'all, this post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small amount of compensation when you purchase from my links, which I"ll totally blow on waffle fries and sweet tea, y'all!**

Top Reasons to Join Sam’s Club

**This post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small amount of compensation when you purchase from my links, which I"ll totally blow on waffle fries and sweet tea, y'all!**



Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Savings.com.  Please know, however, that all opinions, anecdotes, and bad puns are 100% my own.

Join Sam's Club - blog banner

Have you ever thought about joining Sam’s Club?  Or have you joined in the past, but let your membership lapse for one reason or another.  Well, I’m hoping to convince you why you should join Sam’s Club.  It’s not like it was even ten years ago.  They’re doing a great job of keeping up with the times, and listening to the needs of their customers.
I decided to do the most scientific thing possible when researching for reasons why folks should join Sam’s Club: I crowd-sourced my Facebook friends.  With no further adieu, here are the (un)official top reasons why you should join Sam’s Club:

 

Why Should You Join Sam’s Club? [Read more…]

Keep on saving!  :o)
--Barbara

**Remember, y'all, this post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small amount of compensation when you purchase from my links, which I"ll totally blow on waffle fries and sweet tea, y'all!**

Mother’s Day Deals and Freebies 2017

**This post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small amount of compensation when you purchase from my links, which I"ll totally blow on waffle fries and sweet tea, y'all!**



Mother's Day Deals and Freebies

Mother’s Day is rapidly approaching -like THIS Sunday, y’all!  If you’re looking for some ways to help pamper your mom check out these awesome Mother’s Day deals and freebies.  Also, be sure to explore all these great Mother’s Day gifts for under $50, as well as this extensive list of bonus gift cards for moms, dads, and grads.

Super special thanks to Mary from Mission: To Save for contributing to this list for national deals!

Atlanta Local Mothers’ Day Deals & Freebies:

Atlanta Braves GameEnjoy a special Girls Night Out event at SunTrust Park and Coca-Cola Roxy.  Pregame party with Electric Avenue before heading over to watch the game.

 

Chattahoochee Nature Center – Moms get in FREE with the purchase of a regular priced admission ticket.

Georgia Aquarium – Moms get special $20 tickets with purchase of one regular-priced ticket on May 14, 2017.  **If you purchase a City Pass, that is considered a “regular-priced ticket”, so with the City Pass, you can enjoy this special for a 1/2-priced ticket for yo’ mama.

Georgia Renaissance Festival – On Sunday, the first 100 Moms through the gate receive a free flower.

High Museum – FREE admission for all, as part of their Second Sunday Funday program.  You can pose for a portrait at 1pm, and then make a cute keepsake frame while you’re there.  Extra perks for members, of course, including Eric Carle story time, yoga classes for bigs and littles, and more.

Medieval Times, Atlanta – moms are free with the purchase of a full priced adult using the offer code MOM17. Mother’s Day package upgrade available for an additional $20 during checkout or at the door. Package includes Queen Bee tote bag, souvenir glass of champagne or mimosa (cider or non-alcoholic beverage will be served to minors), and a framed photo of Mom.

Zoo Atlanta – Moms get in FREE with purchase of child or adult ticket, or when accompanied by a Zoo Atlanta Member.

 

National Mothers’ Day  Deals & Freebies

Amazon – FREE one-day shipping

Beef O Brady’s – Free meal for Mom at Beef O Brady’s with purchase of equal or lesser value up to $10 at particpating locations (5/14 only)

First Watch– Mom’s receive a free box of chocolate with purchase while supplies last on 5/8.  You may recall, my son and I enjoyed our dining experience at First Watch in Dunwoody!

Kroger: Load Kroger digital coupons to save on gift card purchases plus load a 4X Fuel Points on the Weekends coupons too.

McCormick & Schimicks – Mom will receive a free chocolate covered strawberry with her meal. It is recommended you make reservations if you plan to dine here.

Shoneys – FREE Slice of Strawberry Pie for mom with purchase of a Buffet or Entree. Also, enter to win $100 Visa gift card.

Stevie B’s Pizza – Mom can enjoy a FREE buffet on May 11th. You will need to present your voucher in order to get this offer (available on their Facebook page).

Tony Romas – 3-course meal only $28 on Mother’s day; check with your local store for details

YouFit Health Clubs – free “BYOM (Bring Your Own Mom)” Zumba® classes at Youfit (including multiple Atlanta locations) for members and non-members from May 8-19.

This list will be updated as more offers are released, so make sure that you bookmark it and check back later!

Keep on saving!  :o)
--Barbara

**Remember, y'all, this post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small amount of compensation when you purchase from my links, which I"ll totally blow on waffle fries and sweet tea, y'all!**

Tax Day Freebies 2017

**This post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small amount of compensation when you purchase from my links, which I"ll totally blow on waffle fries and sweet tea, y'all!**



Tax Day Freebies 2017

Ahh, April 15th is upon us.  Can you smell the panic in the air, the long lines at the post office, of those frantic to get their taxes filed before the stroke of midnight?  Ok, so I can’t either, but you get the drift.  And in any case, with tax day comes cool Tax Day Freebies 2017.  Super-special thanks to Mission: To Save, Parade Magazine, and AJC.com for contributing to this list!

Sometimes individual franchise owners choose not to participate in freebies and discounts so be sure and call ahead to avoid disappointment.

Tax Day Freebies 2017

[Read more…]

Keep on saving!  :o)
--Barbara

**Remember, y'all, this post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small amount of compensation when you purchase from my links, which I"ll totally blow on waffle fries and sweet tea, y'all!**

Where to Get Cheap Zyrtec

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cheap zyrtecHow can you get cheap Zyrtec?  I am frequently asked about where to get the best deal on particular items.  And, between my husband and I, we seem to be allergic to absolutely everything!  Thus, we are year-round Zyrtec users.  As such, I’ve done my research, and continue to find the VERY best place to get cheap Zyrtec is at Costco.

They sell their store brand equivalent for $14.99 (sometimes on sale for $11.99, as illustrated below), with 365 pills in the bottle.  That comes out to about 4¢ a pill.  Bam!  Cheap Zyrtec!

Even if you snag the coupons that come out from time to time to grab free Zyrtec, you still pay taxes on the pre-coupon amount (in the state of Georgia), and you still have to spend the time and gas money to get there.  Also, it’s usually the 5-count trial size, so it’s not the best “green” option for year-round or long-term users.  All in all, buying once or twice a year, at this LOW price, is by far, the way to go!


For us, it works just as well as its name brand counter part, keeping itchy noses and watery eyes at bay.  So, if you’re a Zyrtec user, you may want to consider taking a trip to Costco and stocking up!

Where to get cheap Zyrtec

UPDATE 8/2015:
Apparently Sam’s Club caught wind of Costco’s rock-bottom prices, and stepped up. Just this week, I was able to snag a 400 count of store brand Zyrtec for $16.48 – which also works out to about 4¢ a pill.

Where to Find Cheap Zyrtec - Sam's Club

Update 4/2017:
You can also now get CHEAP Flonase at Costco, too.  I got this five pack of their store brand equivalent for about $20.  The best I’ve seen on Flonase is $12 for a single bottle.  Anyone with seasonal allergies or year-long allergies will testify that Flonase is your first and best line of defense against allergies!  So this is an awesome deal – you just have to remember to USE that Flonase.  I keep mine by my toothbrush, to use in the morning after I brush my teeth.Cheap Zyrtec - Cheap Flonase

Now that I’ve told you about cheap Zyrtec, do YOU have any items you’ve found consistently at rock bottom prices?  If so, please share with me, and all my readers!  🙂

Make sure to “pin” this post, so you can share with your friends and to keep for later reference!
cheap zyrtec

Keep on saving!  :o)
--Barbara

**Remember, y'all, this post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small amount of compensation when you purchase from my links, which I"ll totally blow on waffle fries and sweet tea, y'all!**

Sweet Apple Treat

**This post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small amount of compensation when you purchase from my links, which I"ll totally blow on waffle fries and sweet tea, y'all!**



sweet apple treatTonight I made a sweet apple treat for my kiddos.  I’ve shared with y’all my sweet bananas and honey treat that my kids love.  Tonight, I did a variation of that.  Since my daughter gave up chocolate for Lent (God bless her sweet heart – I don’t have that kind of will power!), I had to get a bit creative. Let’s just call this another episode of #pantrysurprise.

I sliced an apple, warmed it in the microwave for one minute, then added a crumbled graham cracker. (Yes, one single graham cracker – it was all we had left…). I sprinkled a little cinnamon, drizzled a little honey, and warmed it up for another minute.

For my son’s, I added a few craisins to it.  My daughter long ago declared her distaste for all things “-aisin”, so I kindly left them off hers.

Honestly, I think it took me longer to make this (less than four minutes), than it did for them to devour it – which I guess means this episode of Pantry Surprise was a success. 😉

Keep on saving!  :o)
--Barbara

**Remember, y'all, this post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small amount of compensation when you purchase from my links, which I"ll totally blow on waffle fries and sweet tea, y'all!**

Discount Tickets around Atlanta

**This post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small amount of compensation when you purchase from my links, which I"ll totally blow on waffle fries and sweet tea, y'all!**



Discount Tickets Around AtlantaYou may have figured out there’s a ton to do around the Atlanta area. Not only are there plenty of free things to do in Atlanta, there’s also tons to do around town with discounted tickets.  Just as when you’re traveling, you should always check for discounted tickets for upcoming events.

 

Finding Discount Tickets Around Atlanta

[Read more…]

Keep on saving!  :o)
--Barbara

**Remember, y'all, this post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small amount of compensation when you purchase from my links, which I"ll totally blow on waffle fries and sweet tea, y'all!**

UpCycling Creativity that Lets Parents Sleep

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Chick-fil-a soup containersAs a member of the Chick-fil-a Moms Panel, I was challenged (again) recently to upcycle the chicken tortilla soup containers.  Since I recently upcycled the salad containers, I thought this would be a piece of cake.  Or waffle fry.  😉

The challenge came at a perfect time, as it helped solve a problem we were facing on weekend mornings.  You see, my husband and I like to sleep in a little on the weekends – and by “sleep in” I mean not get up at 6 am like the kids do!  At five and seven, the kids are more than old enough to entertain themselves safely in the toy room, but recently my daughter took on the responsibility of also wanting to feed herself and her brother during the weekend mornings.  Not a big deal, in theory, because she can prepare cereal and open bananas for herself and her brother.  Boom – breakfast.

However, the issue arised when she admitted to helping herself to seconds, then thirds, then fourths, fifths, sixths, and SEVENTHS of cereal one morning.  Bless her heart.  Granted, she showed me that her second through fifth bowls were less than a quarter full, but still that was entirely too much cereal.

SO, I utilized clean and empty soup containers from Chick-fil-a.  I simply poured an appropriate amount of cereal in each container, and put the lid on.  The cereal waited for them on their placemats in the morning, and I had a cup of milk in the fridge for them to pour on to their cereal in the morning.  The containers were big enough that I could tell my daughter she only ate what was in the bowl.  Along with a banana, this was PLENTY for a meal.

As a bonus, the containers also serve as a great on-the-go breakfast.  About once a week, we indulge in sleeping in a little later during the school week.  We wake up, brush teeth, get dressed, and head out the door.  The kids enjoy a Chick-fil-a soup container of their favorite cereal, along with another container filled with fruit, and they’ve got an easy, delicious and not-that-bad-for-you breakfast.

In summary, upcycling the Chick-fil-a soup containers has allowed my husband and I to sleep more.  As parents, that is amazing.  😉

But I’m not the only one who came up with an awesome way to upcycle Chick-fil-a soup containers.  Check out these other creative ideas:

Given all these creative options, how would YOU upcycle a Chick-fil-a soup container?

Keep on saving!  :o)
--Barbara

**Remember, y'all, this post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small amount of compensation when you purchase from my links, which I"ll totally blow on waffle fries and sweet tea, y'all!**

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